Crude oil from the tanker Exxon Valdez, top, swirls on the surface of Alaska's Prince William Sound near Naked Island. The 987-foot tanker, carrying 53 million gallons of crude, struck Bligh Reef at 12:04 a.m. on March 24, 1989, and within hours unleashed an estimated 10.8 million gallons of thick, toxic crude oil into the water. Storms and currents then smeared it over 1,300 miles of shoreline. Twenty five years later, the region, its people and its wildfire are still recovering. less

Crude oil from the tanker Exxon Valdez, top, swirls on the surface of Alaska's Prince William Sound near Naked Island. The 987-foot tanker, carrying 53 million gallons of crude, struck Bligh Reef at 12:04 a.m. ... more

An oil soaked bird is examined on an island in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Exxon Mobil Corp. was ordered in 2009 to pay about $500 million in interest on punitive damages for the Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska, nearly doubling the payout to Alaska Natives, fishermen, business owners and others harmed by the 1989 disaster. less

An oil soaked bird is examined on an island in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Exxon Mobil Corp. was ordered in 2009 to pay about $500 million in interest on punitive damages for the Exxon Valdez oil spill off ... more

Photo: Jack Smith, ASSOCIATED PRESS

An oil soaked bird is examined on an island in Prince William... Photo-6051189.82408 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Capt. Joseph Hazelwood of the Exxon Valdez surrenders to the court in Hauppauge, N.Y. for arraignment after which he was taken to the county jail in Riverhead, Long Island, April 5, 1989. Hazelwood was eventually convicted on charges of negligent discharge of oil. He never had his masters license revoked.

Capt. Joseph Hazelwood of the Exxon Valdez surrenders to the court in Hauppauge, N.Y. for arraignment after which he was taken to the county jail in Riverhead, Long Island, April 5, 1989. Hazelwood was ... more

Thick crude oil washed up on the cobble beach of Evans Island sticks to the boots and pants of a local fisherman in Prince William Sound, Alaska, on April 11, 1989. The Exxon Valdez tanker oil spill on March 24 has blackened hundreds of miles of coastline. less

Thick crude oil washed up on the cobble beach of Evans Island sticks to the boots and pants of a local fisherman in Prince William Sound, Alaska, on April 11, 1989. The Exxon Valdez tanker oil spill on March ... more

Exxon and federal officials surveying shorelines on Knight Island in Prince William Sound in Alaska say they are finding beaches that have recovered from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill and others that still have oil just underneath the surface, May 15, 1991. less

Exxon and federal officials surveying shorelines on Knight Island in Prince William Sound in Alaska say they are finding beaches that have recovered from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill and others that still ... more

Workers attempt to cleanup a beach in the wake of the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Workers attempt to cleanup a beach in the wake of the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Photo: John Gaps III, AP

Workers attempt to cleanup a beach in the wake of the Exxon Valdez... Photo-6051176.82408 - Beaumont Enterprise

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The Exxon Baton Rouge, smaller ship, attempts to off load crude oil from the Exxon Valdez in Prince William Sound, Alaska on March 26, 1989. The ship ran aground spilling more than 270,000 barrels of crude oil. Experts call it the United State's worst oil spill ever. less

The Exxon Baton Rouge, smaller ship, attempts to off load crude oil from the Exxon Valdez in Prince William Sound, Alaska on March 26, 1989. The ship ran aground spilling more than 270,000 barrels of crude oil. ... more

Furniture and packaged goods now must be flown into this Aleut village on Prince William Sound, shown March 23, 1991, after the traditional subsistence lifestyle based on hunting, fishing and gathered foods has given way to a cash economy in the wake of the March 24, 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. less

Furniture and packaged goods now must be flown into this Aleut village on Prince William Sound, shown March 23, 1991, after the traditional subsistence lifestyle based on hunting, fishing and gathered foods has ... more

Photo: AP

Furniture and packaged goods now must be flown into this Aleut... Photo-6051186.82408 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Facing the loss of an anticipated $12 million herring harvest, Cordova District Fisherman United president Jerry McCune suffers through a meeting of local fisherman discussing their bleak future, April 10, 1989, Cordova, Alaska. "We are fishing," says a local businessman. No fishing, no business. No Business, no economy. No economy, no Cordova." less

Facing the loss of an anticipated $12 million herring harvest, Cordova District Fisherman United president Jerry McCune suffers through a meeting of local fisherman discussing their bleak future, April 10, ... more

An oil cleanup worker walks through the oily surf at Naked Island on Prince Williams Sound as beach cleanup goes on in background, a week after the beginning of an oil disaster which occurred when the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground and spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound off Alaska, near Oil Pipeline tanker terminal in Valdez Harbor. less

An oil cleanup worker walks through the oily surf at Naked Island on Prince Williams Sound as beach cleanup goes on in background, a week after the beginning of an oil disaster which occurred when the tanker ... more

President George H. Bush puts his hand to his head while discussing the Exxon Valdez oil tanker spill tragedy in Alaska during a White House press conference, Friday, April 7, 1989 in Washington.

President George H. Bush puts his hand to his head while discussing the Exxon Valdez oil tanker spill tragedy in Alaska during a White House press conference, Friday, April 7, 1989 in Washington.

Photo: Marcy Nighswander, ASSOCIATED PRESS

President George H. Bush puts his hand to his head while discussing... Photo-6051172.82408 - Beaumont Enterprise

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The container dock in Valdez harbor is being used as a collection point for the massive amount of equipment used during the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup operations in Prince William Sound in Valdez Sept. 14, 1989. less

The container dock in Valdez harbor is being used as a collection point for the massive amount of equipment used during the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup operations in Prince William Sound in Valdez Sept. 14, ... more

Photo: Al Grillo, AP

The container dock in Valdez harbor is being used as a collection... Photo-6051184.82408 - Beaumont Enterprise

A local fisherman inspects a dead California gray whale on the northern shore of Latoucha Island, Alaska, Sunday afternoon on April 9, 1989. The whale was found over the weekend in the oil-contaminated waters of Prince William Sound. Wildlife experts later determined that the whale had died before the Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred on March 24. less

A local fisherman inspects a dead California gray whale on the northern shore of Latoucha Island, Alaska, Sunday afternoon on April 9, 1989. The whale was found over the weekend in the oil-contaminated waters ... more

A rescued sea otter is restrained and washed by workers at a local animal facility after five of the oil covered mammals were captured in the fouled waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska, April 18, 1989. The list of animals injured and killed from the spill of the oil tanker Exxon Valdez includes sea otters, deer, eagles, owls and a host of other water fowl gathered up by rescue workers. less

A rescued sea otter is restrained and washed by workers at a local animal facility after five of the oil covered mammals were captured in the fouled waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska, April 18, 1989. The ... more

Photo: JOHN GAPS III, ASSOCIATED PRESS

A rescued sea otter is restrained and washed by workers at a local... Photo-6051166.82408 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Troy Adamson, left, and Nicolette Heaphy clean a cormorant that had been covered in oil at the bird cleaning center in Valdez, Alaska, April 4, 1989. Birds and other animals have been covered in oil as a result of the massive spill from the tanker Exxon Valdez that ran aground in Prince William Sound on March 24. less

Troy Adamson, left, and Nicolette Heaphy clean a cormorant that had been covered in oil at the bird cleaning center in Valdez, Alaska, April 4, 1989. Birds and other animals have been covered in oil as a ... more

Jim Fenwick of Fairbanks Alaska throws another bag of oiled absorbent material onto an ever increasing pile at the container docks in Valdez, Sunday, Sept. 10, 1989. Oil soaked material and equipment are being removed from the beaches in Prince William Sound and being made ready for transport to Anchorage and other storage areas as the pull out date of September 15 approaches. less

Jim Fenwick of Fairbanks Alaska throws another bag of oiled absorbent material onto an ever increasing pile at the container docks in Valdez, Sunday, Sept. 10, 1989. Oil soaked material and equipment are being ... more

About 25 fishing boats circled off shore from the Alyeska Pipeline terminal in Valdez, Alaska, Sept. 9, 1989 protesting the use of foreign tankers to transport oil from Valdez, the methods used in cleaning oiled beaches in Prince William Sound and the oil industry's failure to address safety problems which the fishermen believed caused the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The protest was organized by the Cordova District Fishermen Union. less

About 25 fishing boats circled off shore from the Alyeska Pipeline terminal in Valdez, Alaska, Sept. 9, 1989 protesting the use of foreign tankers to transport oil from Valdez, the methods used in cleaning ... more

Two unidentified children walk through the village of Tatitlek, May 17, 1989, Tatitlek, Alaska. Life in this fishing village is uncertain since the Exxon Valdez hemorrhaged more than 10 million gallons of crude oil just 5 miles from their cove. Though local folks have seen little of the oil in their waters, the oil spill has jeopardized the fishing season, on which the village depends. less

Two unidentified children walk through the village of Tatitlek, May 17, 1989, Tatitlek, Alaska. Life in this fishing village is uncertain since the Exxon Valdez hemorrhaged more than 10 million gallons of crude ... more

Photo: JOHN GAPS III, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Two unidentified children walk through the village of Tatitlek, May... Photo-6051177.82408 - Beaumont Enterprise

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An oil spill worker sprays high pressure water on the rocks at Smith Island, Alaska, April 28, 1989, but the technique is recognized by workers to be basically worthless.

An oil spill worker sprays high pressure water on the rocks at Smith Island, Alaska, April 28, 1989, but the technique is recognized by workers to be basically worthless.

Photo: Stapleton, ASSOCIATED PRESS

An oil spill worker sprays high pressure water on the rocks at... Photo-6051178.82408 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Three tugboats (R) push the oil tanker Exxon San Francisco (C) into place beside the crippled tanker Exxon Valdez (L) in Prince William Sound to begin off-loading the remainder of crude oil in Valdez, a week after the beginning of an oil disaster which occurred when the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground and spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound off Alaska. less

Three tugboats (R) push the oil tanker Exxon San Francisco (C) into place beside the crippled tanker Exxon Valdez (L) in Prince William Sound to begin off-loading the remainder of crude oil in Valdez, a week ... more

Workmen, covered in oil, shovel oil-covered rocks from the waters edge on Smith Island in Prince William Sound, Alaska, Thursday, March 31, 1989. An Exxon Valdez crude oil tanker ran aground about 50 miles from Smith Island on March 24. less

Workmen, covered in oil, shovel oil-covered rocks from the waters edge on Smith Island in Prince William Sound, Alaska, Thursday, March 31, 1989. An Exxon Valdez crude oil tanker ran aground about 50 miles ... more

A clean-up worker rakes through crude oil, contained by floating booms off the waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska, April 16, 1989. The oil, contained here in Snug Harbor off Knight Island, was later sucked off the water by a U.S. Coast Guard skimmer. Oil from the tanker Exxon Valdez continues to foul the waters of southern Alaska. less

A clean-up worker rakes through crude oil, contained by floating booms off the waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska, April 16, 1989. The oil, contained here in Snug Harbor off Knight Island, was later sucked ... more

Salmon fry, held in the square pools, are protected from crude oil by a series of containment booms in Sawmill Bay, Prince William Sound, Alaska, April 14, 1989. Originally the fish were to be released later this month, but with oil from the spill of the Exxon Valdez still in these southern Alaska waters, it is now uncertain when and where they will go. less

Salmon fry, held in the square pools, are protected from crude oil by a series of containment booms in Sawmill Bay, Prince William Sound, Alaska, April 14, 1989. Originally the fish were to be released later ... more

Photo: JOHN GAPS III, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Salmon fry, held in the square pools, are protected from crude oil... Photo-6051163.82408 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Bill Scheer, of Valdez, Alaska, is covered in crude oil while working on a beach fowled by the spill of the tanker Exxon Valdez at Prince William Sound, Wednesday afternoon, April 13, 1989. Efforts to clean the 10.9 million gallons of North Slope crude oil continue. less

Bill Scheer, of Valdez, Alaska, is covered in crude oil while working on a beach fowled by the spill of the tanker Exxon Valdez at Prince William Sound, Wednesday afternoon, April 13, 1989. Efforts to clean ... more

High winds on Prince William Sound push crude oil up into an inlet on Squire Island, Alaska, April 10, 1989. The massive oil spill from Exxon Valdez continues to contaminate the Sound after the tanker ran aground. less

High winds on Prince William Sound push crude oil up into an inlet on Squire Island, Alaska, April 10, 1989. The massive oil spill from Exxon Valdez continues to contaminate the Sound after the tanker ran ... more

Photo: JOHN GAPS III, ASSOCIATED PRESS

High winds on Prince William Sound push crude oil up into an inlet... Photo-6051174.82408 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Exxon Corp president Lee Raymond, left, addresses the company's shareholders during their annual meeting, Thursday, May 18, 1989, Parsippany, New Jersey. Company chairman Lawrence Rawl is at right. About 250 demonstrators gathered outside the suburban hotel where the meeting was held, about 35 miles west of New York City. Man in center is unidentified. less

Exxon Corp president Lee Raymond, left, addresses the company's shareholders during their annual meeting, Thursday, May 18, 1989, Parsippany, New Jersey. Company chairman Lawrence Rawl is at right. About 250 ... more

Former captain Joseph Hazelwood of the tanker Exxon Valdez, owned by US petroleum giant Exxon Corporation, is escorted by police official to his arraignment inside Suffolk County courthouse on charges stemming from the Alaskan oil disaster. less

Former captain Joseph Hazelwood of the tanker Exxon Valdez, owned by US petroleum giant Exxon Corporation, is escorted by police official to his arraignment inside Suffolk County courthouse on charges stemming ... more

Rick Zufelt of Soldotna, Alaska, wipes spilled crude oil off a rock on the beach of Naked Island on Prince William Sound, Alaska, Friday morning, April 7, 1989, in an effort to clean the remnants of the Exxon Valdez tanker disaster of March 24. Zufelt, who works for a company contracted by Exxon to clean up the oil, is using a special oil absorbent rag. less

Rick Zufelt of Soldotna, Alaska, wipes spilled crude oil off a rock on the beach of Naked Island on Prince William Sound, Alaska, Friday morning, April 7, 1989, in an effort to clean the remnants of the Exxon ... more

Tugboats tow the oil tanker Exxon Valdez off Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound 05 April 1989 to a harbor near Naked Island for repair and salvage efforts, two week after the beginning of an oil disaster which occurred when the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground 24 March 1989 and spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound off Alaska. less

Tugboats tow the oil tanker Exxon Valdez off Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound 05 April 1989 to a harbor near Naked Island for repair and salvage efforts, two week after the beginning of an oil disaster which ... more

One baby and five adults oil-soaked sea otters lie dead on Green Island beach 03 April 1989 on Prince Williams Sound near Valdez more than a week after the beginning of an oil disaster which occurred when the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground 24 March 1989 and spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound off Alaska. less

One baby and five adults oil-soaked sea otters lie dead on Green Island beach 03 April 1989 on Prince Williams Sound near Valdez more than a week after the beginning of an oil disaster which occurred when the ... more

Fisherman John Thomas carries an oil-soaked sea bird at the bird rescue center in Valdez, more a week after the beginning of an oil disaster which occurred when the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground and spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound off Alaska. less

Fisherman John Thomas carries an oil-soaked sea bird at the bird rescue center in Valdez, more a week after the beginning of an oil disaster which occurred when the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground and spilled ... more

Fishermen Greg Will (L) and Matt Kinney, both of Valdez, stand in protest outside an Exxon news conference room which was closed to local residents in Valdez, more a week after the beginning of an oil disaster which occurred when the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground and spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound off Alaska. less

Fishermen Greg Will (L) and Matt Kinney, both of Valdez, stand in protest outside an Exxon news conference room which was closed to local residents in Valdez, more a week after the beginning of an oil disaster ... more

Sea lions sun themselves on oil polluted rock formation in Prince Williams Sound near Valdez more than a week after the beginning of an oil disaster which occurred when the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground and spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound off Alaska. less

Sea lions sun themselves on oil polluted rock formation in Prince Williams Sound near Valdez more than a week after the beginning of an oil disaster which occurred when the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground and ... more

US petroleum giant Exxon Corporation shipping President Frank Iarossi comments the cleanup operation in Valdez, a week after the beginning of an oil disaster which occurred when the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground and spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into the waters of Prince William Sound off Alaska, near Oil Pipeline tanker terminal in Valdez Harbor. less

US petroleum giant Exxon Corporation shipping President Frank Iarossi comments the cleanup operation in Valdez, a week after the beginning of an oil disaster which occurred when the tanker Exxon Valdez ran ... more

Cleanup workers scrub large rocks on the oil-covered beach of Naked Island on Prince Williams Sound as beach cleanup goes on a week after the beginning of an oil disaster which occurred when the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground and spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound off Alaska, near Oil Pipeline tanker terminal in Valdez Harbor. less

Cleanup workers scrub large rocks on the oil-covered beach of Naked Island on Prince Williams Sound as beach cleanup goes on a week after the beginning of an oil disaster which occurred when the tanker Exxon ... more

An oil slick swirls over Prince William Sound, Alaska, April 2, 1989, about 50 miles from where the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground March 24, spilling more than 10 million gallons of crude oil into the waters.

An oil slick swirls over Prince William Sound, Alaska, April 2, 1989, about 50 miles from where the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground March 24, spilling more than 10 million gallons of crude oil into the waters.

Workers try to remove globs of oil from Baked Island in Prince William Sound, Alaska. A massive oil slick covers Prince William Sound stretching over 100 miles as the result of the tanker Exxon Valdez running aground March 24, 1989, spilling more than 10-million gallons of oil. 25 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska, some damage heals, some effects linger in Prince William Sound. less

Workers try to remove globs of oil from Baked Island in Prince William Sound, Alaska. A massive oil slick covers Prince William Sound stretching over 100 miles as the result of the tanker Exxon Valdez running ... more

An oil skimming operation works in a heavy oil slick near Latouche Island near the southwest end Prince William Sound in Valdez, a week after the beginning of an oil disaster which occurred when the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground and spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound off Alaska. less

An oil skimming operation works in a heavy oil slick near Latouche Island near the southwest end Prince William Sound in Valdez, a week after the beginning of an oil disaster which occurred when the tanker ... more

Photo: CHRIS WILKINS, AFP/Getty Images

An oil skimming operation works in a heavy oil slick near Latouche... Photo-6051144.82408 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Three unidentified men listen to Exxon Oil officials, in Cordova, Alaska on March 29, 1989, talk about the millions of gallons of oil that spilled from one of their tankers after it ran aground in Prince William Sound. less

Three unidentified men listen to Exxon Oil officials, in Cordova, Alaska on March 29, 1989, talk about the millions of gallons of oil that spilled from one of their tankers after it ran aground in Prince ... more

Tugboats hold the tanker Exxon Baton Rouge, right, up against the tanker Exxon Valdez as oil is pumped out of the damaged tanker that ran aground into the Prince William Sound, 25 miles from Valdez, Alaska, March 28, 1989. Exxon Valdez ran aground March 24, spilling over 270,000 barrels of crude oil. less

Tugboats hold the tanker Exxon Baton Rouge, right, up against the tanker Exxon Valdez as oil is pumped out of the damaged tanker that ran aground into the Prince William Sound, 25 miles from Valdez, Alaska, ... more

The Exxon Valdez, renamed "Oriental Nicety" is pictured in 2012, anchored some six nautical miles off the Bhavnagar coast near Alang ship-breaking yard in western Indian state of Gujarat, India. India's Supreme Court had banned the ship from entering the country, saying it was involved in one of the worst U.S. oil spills will not be allowed in for dismantling until it has been decontaminated, but it was eventually let in for scrapping.

The Exxon Valdez, renamed "Oriental Nicety" is pictured in 2012, anchored some six nautical miles off the Bhavnagar coast near Alang ship-breaking yard in western Indian state of Gujarat, India. India's ... more